Poll: Do you suffer from hand related issues due to your work as a translator?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Sep 3, 2016

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you suffer from hand related issues due to your work as a translator?".

This poll was originally submitted by Radek Lhotsky. View the poll results »



 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 01:24
English to Italian
Yes Sep 3, 2016

Pain in the evening, a massage is usually enough.

 
Nikki Graham
Nikki Graham  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:24
Spanish to English
No Sep 3, 2016

Because I dictate the vast majority of my translation work using Dragon Naturally Speaking.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 17:24
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
No Sep 3, 2016

I was taught to keep my wrists high when I learned piano and typing. I think that's the key - pun intended. I've been punching keyboards for over 60 years and never had a twinge of pain.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 00:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No, thanks to warm-up exercises Sep 3, 2016

No pianist starts off playing without doing a few warm-up exercises (my mother was a piano player and she keeps on playing every day even at her very old age). Like Muriel, I have been typing for over 60 years without a single wrist pain, we must be doing something right...

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 20:24
English to Spanish
+ ...
Not just the hands Sep 3, 2016

If your wrist or one of your fingers hurt when typing, it's not just in the hands. It's how you sit up (or slouch, or twist your spine), how you place your wrists in the air (no bending them upwards), how you use your shoulders, shoulder blades, arms, forearms, etc.

I've undergone occupational therapy because of tennis elbow (or tendinosis), despite doing hand exercises for years. Why? My shoulder blade muscles on the left side are weak, so I'm strengthening them with daily exercise
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If your wrist or one of your fingers hurt when typing, it's not just in the hands. It's how you sit up (or slouch, or twist your spine), how you place your wrists in the air (no bending them upwards), how you use your shoulders, shoulder blades, arms, forearms, etc.

I've undergone occupational therapy because of tennis elbow (or tendinosis), despite doing hand exercises for years. Why? My shoulder blade muscles on the left side are weak, so I'm strengthening them with daily exercises.

I am out of breath because I just ran 20 minutes in my stationary bike (also doing hip surgery rehab exercises at home).

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Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 01:24
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Sort of Sep 3, 2016

There are problems, however, they are not due to typing, although typing doesn't make it any better.

 
Bruno Veilleux
Bruno Veilleux  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 20:24
English to French
Same as Thayenga Sep 3, 2016

Typing brings out the symptoms of my thoracic outlet syndrome, as do many other things. Stretching and rest make them manageable. It's a balancing act I couldn't afford if I weren't self-employed.

 
Stephanie Mitchel
Stephanie Mitchel  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 20:24
French to English
The gauntlet. Sep 3, 2016

My actual ergo problems (wrists, shoulders, neck) have dried up since I stopped sitting at a desk; I now stand at least 75% of the time and sit only when my feet start hurting (but that's for another poll, ha). However, I've developed Raynaud's syndrome and, while I'm sure the predisposition was there, it's surely aggravated by all that typing. Any time the ambient temp is below 70 F / 21 C, my fingers turn into icicles. I have to type with glove liners on, and those do only a fair job. If I cou... See more
My actual ergo problems (wrists, shoulders, neck) have dried up since I stopped sitting at a desk; I now stand at least 75% of the time and sit only when my feet start hurting (but that's for another poll, ha). However, I've developed Raynaud's syndrome and, while I'm sure the predisposition was there, it's surely aggravated by all that typing. Any time the ambient temp is below 70 F / 21 C, my fingers turn into icicles. I have to type with glove liners on, and those do only a fair job. If I could figure out a way to preheat the gloves, that would be much better; I did find a pair of gloves on line that plugged into my PC to heat, but they were fingerless, so that wasn't much help. I may eventually resort to voice-recognition software... once I can't move my fingers at all.Collapse


 
Paulo Caldeira
Paulo Caldeira  Identity Verified
Portugal
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Hand problems for writing? While I learn to play Piano... Sep 3, 2016

The major problem for a person with a pc is the elbow and eyes, not the hands.
If your have problems with hands when written try to exercise them while you are not working, just like pianists do.
The old "ball on hand" will not help you.
Also, as a pianist with 25 years experience I can tell you this: try to keep your hands confortable, just like your body. Your mouse, for instance, must be used near to your body, not your pc.


 
Paulo Caldeira
Paulo Caldeira  Identity Verified
Portugal
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Try to use the new smartphone gloves. Sep 3, 2016

Stephanie Mitchel wrote:

My actual ergo problems (wrists, shoulders, neck) have dried up since I stopped sitting at a desk; I now stand at least 75% of the time and sit only when my feet start hurting (but that's for another poll, ha). However, I've developed Raynaud's syndrome and, while I'm sure the predisposition was there, it's surely aggravated by all that typing. Any time the ambient temp is below 70 F / 21 C, my fingers turn into icicles. I have to type with glove liners on, and those do only a fair job. If I could figure out a way to preheat the gloves, that would be much better; I did find a pair of gloves on line that plugged into my PC to heat, but they were fingerless, so that wasn't much help. I may eventually resort to voice-recognition software... once I can't move my fingers at all.


There's a new type of gloves for smartphones that can be your solution. They cover all your hand and they are fingers sensitive. There is a brand that supplies the biggest companies in the world.


 
Alexandra Speirs
Alexandra Speirs  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:24
Italian to English
+ ...
not usually Sep 3, 2016

I never have any trouble .... another who was taught to hold her hands properly at the piano!

But today, due to a big problem with Studio which refuses to save the target file of my 90-page job, I've been cutting and pasting every sentence. I got as far as page 40 and my fingers were getting numb, so I'll continue tomorrow.


 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 20:24
English to Spanish
+ ...
Raynaud's syndrome Sep 4, 2016

Paulo Caldeira wrote:

Stephanie Mitchel wrote:

My actual ergo problems (wrists, shoulders, neck) have dried up since I stopped sitting at a desk; I now stand at least 75% of the time and sit only when my feet start hurting (but that's for another poll, ha). However, I've developed Raynaud's syndrome and, while I'm sure the predisposition was there, it's surely aggravated by all that typing. Any time the ambient temp is below 70 F / 21 C, my fingers turn into icicles. I have to type with glove liners on, and those do only a fair job. If I could figure out a way to preheat the gloves, that would be much better; I did find a pair of gloves on line that plugged into my PC to heat, but they were fingerless, so that wasn't much help. I may eventually resort to voice-recognition software... once I can't move my fingers at all.


There's a new type of gloves for smartphones that can be your solution. They cover all your hand and they are fingers sensitive. There is a brand that supplies the biggest companies in the world.


Paulo, the point is not what gloves to use. Do you have a book on Raynaud's syndrome in your extensive library? If not, Raynaud's is a rare disease affecting fingers and toes.


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 21:24
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not yet Sep 5, 2016

But I try to work in a decent position and make regular intervals, which I believe are the most important factors to prevent them. Not everyone pays the due attention to ergonomics, and many people don't make regular intervals ( I mean many during the day, like at every hour or two hours at the most). The use of laptops sitting on sophas instead of a desk, in very undue working positions, is also helping spread these issues.

I'm 50 y.o., and I have been typing for 30 years. So far,
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But I try to work in a decent position and make regular intervals, which I believe are the most important factors to prevent them. Not everyone pays the due attention to ergonomics, and many people don't make regular intervals ( I mean many during the day, like at every hour or two hours at the most). The use of laptops sitting on sophas instead of a desk, in very undue working positions, is also helping spread these issues.

I'm 50 y.o., and I have been typing for 30 years. So far, I haven't had any issues like that, and I know I don't take all precautions I should. But so far, I have no indications of them either.
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Poll: Do you suffer from hand related issues due to your work as a translator?






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